Has anyone had a ECV or considered/refused one?

[Zarara]

I’m 34 weeks pregnant and baby appears to be breech. I’m having an ultrasound at 36week which will confirm position of baby. My midwife talked through the options briefly if the baby continues to remain breech. Anyway I’ve been doing some googling and the midwife confirmed that an ECV would be offered if baby is breech after the 36 week scan. This may be a non issue as baby may still turn but would be interesting to hear from anyone that has had an ECV and whether it is worth trying. Or if anyone has refused the procedure and just gone for a c section.

I’ve had an ecv and wouldn’t have one again. Mine was incredibly physical (consultant with one knee on the bed to do the manual turn) and and painful. I was very shocked by just how physically hard work it was to do. Done at 38 weeks, by the way. Mine was successful in that the baby turned, but I didn’t deliver naturally as I needed an EMCS for failure to progress. Baby was born with cord wrapped around his neck in a figure eight. I have no idea if this was linked to the ecv, but would never do it again.

I had a ECV and was told it could only be done at 37 weeks, so I'm not sure what happened with WellTidy's example - my hospital were specific it was 37 or nothing as baby would be too big.

My experience was nothing like WellTidy's (sorry @WellTidy!), it was a seperate room in a maternity clinic area, with a nurse and the consultant and they spent most time scanning baby before and after the procedure. They said they will try and move baby forwards, then backwards if that fails, then leave baby alone if they won't move. It depends why baby is breech (undiagnosed fibroids etc. may mean baby can't move). the consultant tilted the bed backwards slightly and I had an injection to help relax muscles but she pushed baby round with a firm movement of her hand - it was her thumb digging in that was uncomfortable. It wasn't that hard work and no-one had their knees on a bed except for me. I had a light breakfast before hand and was home at lunchtime. You take your hospital bag with you in case they're not happy with baby's stats afterwards as you get an emergency cesaerean but I had no problems. Baby arrived 2.5 weeks later in birth centre.

Thanks for both your comments. @WellTidy your experience sounds awful and tbh I’ve heard a few versions of this which make me feel nervous. Looking through my trusts guidance it seems to correspond with @SayOohLaLa as they monitor you throughout and for quite a time after and if there is any sign of distress they will preform and c section pretty much straight away. I would like to avoid a c section if possible but I am worried about an ECV and how safe they are as there seems to be such a range of experiences.

OP, ask how many of these your consultant does. There was one consultant ay our hospital who did all of them, it was her thing so she did them week after week. You're more likely to get problems if you have a random consultant having a go as you need a knack for it, apparently.

Also, if you're googling look for UK sites - I found that horrific experiences tend to be linked to the US - mention of using gas and air because it's so painful etc.

I was offered one as my baby was breech but in the end decided not to have it and to opt for a c section. I decided this because I read that there was no guarantee the ECV would work, if it did work the baby could always turn back and finally my baby had been breech for so long I figured maybe it was meant to be. The c section went very well - it was nice to know when I would finally meet my baby and my recovery was good so I feel like I made the right choice and everyone ended up happy! Good luck with your decision.

There’s often a reason baby is a certain way round could be a short or tangled cord and in my opinion it’s better to avoid the ecv procedure

I had one 15 years ago as DD was transverse. They managed to turn her and although uncomfortable, I wouldn't call it painful.

I don't recall being warned of any risks. I was on s monitor before and after, but went home after an hour.

DD was born with the cord round her neck, and the cord also had a knot in it. Luckily the midwife was on the ball and delivered DD suspecting the cord was round her neck, but it could have ended very differently. I now know that this can be a result of the ECV procedure.

I had one at around 38 weeks, but it was absolutely fine. I didn’t even need the muscle relaxants. As SayOhLaLa said they scanned me, the consultant did some measurements, the consultant gave the baby a prob and the baby was was very mobile. Then the doctor said that they would first try to turn without giving me anything as I had a lot of waters, the doctor barely gave the baby a nudge (was wedged under my ribs) and the baby flipped head down, no pain, no discomfort at all.

Gave birth nearly 4 weeks later (!) in the local midwife led unit, no problems and I had a lovely (or as lovely as you can have) birth.

I haven't had one but would refuse if it was offered. I know a couple of people who have had unpleasant experiences similar to the above and I'm sure that there was a thread on here a while back where a baby was stillborn following ECV. Not to be a scaremonger, because that might have happened anyway, but it would be enough to put me off.

I had one at 37+5. I won't lie, it was pretty uncomfortable at the time, made my eyes water a little! The consultant attempted 3 times, the first 2 the baby didn't budge at all then on the third she turned. The third attempt was pretty intense, the consultant had a knee on the bed and was shaking from the pressure she was applying BUT in my opinion, it was totally worth it. I was a little sore under my ribs for a day or two after but that was it. I really didn't want a c-section so I would have tried anything to turn the baby! Before and after the ecv the baby's movement and heart rate were monitored for quite a while and j was scanned before, during and straight after the ecv to check baby and again a week later.